Joseph silbernik



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH SILBERNIK,

OF NEV'YORK, N. Y.

TOILET-FAN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 335,318, dated February 2, 1886.

Application tiled March 19, 1885. Serial No. 159,423. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH SILBERNIK, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Fans, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in Which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both the iigures.y

Figure l is aside elevation of a folding fan to which my improvement has been applied, shown as opened for use, and part bei ng broken away. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a part of the same shown closed, parts being broken away.

The object of this invention is to provide fans constructed in such a manner that they can be operated by a slight movement of one finger without its being necessary to move the entire hand, as must be done when using ordinary fans.

The invention consists in the construction and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the illustration given in the drawings the paper A is attached to a series of sticks, B, which, when the fan is closed or folded, are side by side, and which are hinged to a wire, C, passed through perforations in the inner ends of the said sticks. The ends ofthe wire O are riveted or otherwise secured to the ends of the arms of a holder D which is made in two parts secured to each other by rivets E. The end of the center stick B is extended, and is secured between the outer arms of the holder Dby the rivets E, to prevent the sticks B from turning upon the wire O when the fan is being used.

To the holder Dis secured, by means of the rivets E, or by other suitable means, the end of a spring, F, of steel or other suitable material. To the outer end of the spring F is attached a handle, G, of wood, metal, or other suitable substance. The spring F and handle G, both or either, can be covered with leather, cloth, or other suitable material, to give them a neat and finished appearance.

In using the fan the handle G is grasped in the hand,with the thumb or foreinger resting against the upper part of the spring F, or

against the shank of the holder D. The upper part of the spring F is then pushed back or forward with the thumb or foreinger, while the handle Gand the lower part of the spring F are held stationary, and the spring F is then allowed to return to its former position to be again pushed back or forward with the thumb or foretinger, so that the fan can be agitated without moving any part ofthe hand but the thumb or forenger, and with the exertion of very little power.

By taking hold of the shank of the holder D the fan can be used in the ordinary manner.

To the outer sticks B are attached the ends of an elastic cord, H, the middle part of which passes around a shoulder of the holder D, so as to hold the fan extended or spread while being used. The elastic H will also hold vthe fan in its closed position when released lfrom the shoulder on the holder.

Vhen the spring F is applied to a flat fan, the spring H will not be required.

Having thus described my invention, I claim' as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentbq l. The combination, with the holder, a series of fan-sticks pivoted thereto, and a shoulder on the outside of the holder below the pivot of the fanvsticks, of an elastic, H, secured at its ends to the outer fan-sticks above their pivotal points, and free of connection with the fan between its ends, whereby said elastic will hold the fan open when it is brought into engagement with the shoulder, and will hold the fan closed when released from the shoulder, substantially as set forth.

2. As an improved article of manufacture, a fan comprising a holder, D, having an oft'- set or shoulder, a handle, G, and a spring, F, connecting the holder and handle, the fan A B, pivoted within the holder above the offset or shoulder, and the elastic H, secured at its ends to the outer fan-sticks above their pivotal points, and free of the fan between its ends, whereby said elastic is adapted to hold 9 the fan in an open or closed position, substantially as set forth.

JOSEPH SILBERNIK.

Vitn esses J AMES T. GRAHAM,

C. SEDGWICK. 

